By Rafah Al Saad
I would like to share with you my first experience of attending a training course in Canada.
As a journalist, I usually write political or humanitarian articles and reports, but today it›s totally deferent.
I have been in Canada for one year and eight months. This is the first time I attended a training course in order to get an opportunity to find a job… The place is «CCLC» Cross Culture Learning Center
My friend Iman, works there and she advised me to get some Canadian experience.
She introduced me to Mr Mengesha who is responsible for training courses. He agreed to have me as one of his trainees. The course is called «Life Skills Worker».. I am really excited to see how the course will develop.
It›s now four days since I started. We are six people from different nationalities with different languages and cultures. It was a good experience. We have exchanged a lot of information. During the sessions, we discussed everything about newcomers and how CCLC could help them from start to finish.
What does the training offer?
The life skill training teaches us how we can help newcomers. We learned to show them the details of life in Canada.
Mr Mengesha was the one who moderated the sessions and explained to us how to help newcomers and what they should know about the community, its norms, traditions and life in general.
Activities also included educational skills and training activities that take place within schools, families or communities.
The Life Skills Program aims to qualify us to be able supporters of the newly arrived refugees, helping them and providing them with guidance and the support they need in order to adjust to life in Canada.
The life skill training taught us very important things related to fire safety at home, during our movements out, when using transport , or at schools, banks ,shopping centres and other places… The life skill briefing also included conversation about the ethics of interpretation and housing.
In conclusion, I can say it›s a really good experience. Anyone who masters this course can work well in helping those newcomers who need to know the basics of life in Canada.
As a person who came here as a refugee, I know how important it is to find someone who can lend you a helping hand and show you the right way to live safely and within the norms of the Canadian culture.
I would also like to mention one other good thing about this course. I found a place where I can leave my children while I attend the course.